Corn-planter



l (N O MOdGL) 3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

P. M. H. HEMPBL. l0.01m PLANTBR.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IHM. H. HEMPEL.

CORN PLANTBR.

No. 357.199. Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

zw/M) Innen Zar.'

l Q i/ M/ w N. PETERS, Phalcrllhogmphcr. Wushi mmmmmm C4 VIO ; the planter.

' ward ends of the bars AA.

catch h holds the marker I-I in a llNITED Srl-rrEsV PATENT OEErcE.

FRANK MADsoN HENRY HEMREL, oE rLATfrsMouTH, NEBRASKA.

coRN-PLANTER. y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,199, dated FebruaryB, 1887.

Application tiled October 16, 1885. Serial No. 180,044. (No model.)

' cation.

My invention relates more particularly to corn-planters, but it can be applied with equal advantage to allv classes of seed-planting machines; and it consists, principally, in the means employed for actuating the droppers or seed-valves by the rotary motion of the groundwheel and the `particaular mechanism used to throw the same in and out of gear, the means employed to operate a cross-marker, and other minor improvements, hereinafter fully described. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section through the center of Fig. 2 is a back view showing one wheel in part section. Fig. 3 is a plan. Figs. 4f, 5, 6, and 7 are details.

The frame A, A', and A2 is mounted upon and secured to the axle B and the cross-piece C. The ground-wheels E E are j ournaled upon the end of the axle B, and the droppers F F are supported at each end of the lcross-piece O. The bar D, to which is rigidly attached the pole D and the rod CZ d, is hinged to the fr- The rod cZ is connected to the lever G by the rod d. l Thelever G is fulcrumed at g', and has foot-plate g. .It will be seen that by pressing the foot-plate g down the forward end of the frame A A will be raised. The catch g2 engages the lever G when pressed down.

A marker, H, is pivoted at h to the bar A2 I of the frame. This marker is braced by the rod I. The curved rod t" is secured at each end of the bar D and arches over the same. An eye is formed on the end of the brace-rod I, through which the guide-rod z" passes, so that in throwing the marker H over from one side of the planter to the other the bracerod I follows along 'the guide-rod i. The springperpendicular position when not in use.

Attached to the hub of the ground-wheelE is a disk,7c, to which is secured the ratchetwheel K. The disk L'revolves freely on the face of disk k, and has an open center which allows the ratchet-wheelK to protrude above the face of disk L. This disk or ring L has two arms, ZZ, which' are provided with studs Z Z. Pivoted to this disk L is a pawl, Z2, which is made to engage with ratchet-wheel K, and is held in connection with the ratchet-wheel K by the spring Z3, so that as the groundwheel Erevolves, in drawing the planter along, the disk L, with arms Z Z and studs ZZ, revolve also, while the pawl Z2 is in connection with the ratchet-wheel K. When the pawl Z2 is thrown out of connection with the ratchet-wheel K, the disk L remains still, while the ground-wheel E rotates. Now, as the studs Z Z on the arms ZZof the disk L operate the droppers and also a g Through this hole, and pressing against the outside of the arm of pawl Z2, is a stud, m. The arm of pawl Z2 is soV formed at the end that as the stud m moves along the oblong hole m2 it throws the pawl Zz out ot' connection with the circular strip, m3, which moves in a shallow groove cut on the underneath side of disk L, the ends of which are turned out and form the arms m m, so that while the disk L is revolvarms m m is pressed toward the arms Z Zof the disk L the pawl ZIz will be disengaged with the ratchet-wheel K and the disk L will remain still,while the ground-wheel revolves.

Now, it will be seen that the droppers and cross-marker are operated automatically as the planter is drawn across the field by the rotary motion of the ground-wheels E, and that by throwing out the bar N against either of the arms m m the pawl Z2 will be disengaged from the ratchet-wheel K, and the ground-wheel E will revolve without operating eitherlthe droppers or cross-marker. The bar N (see Fig. 2) moves in the guide a', which is secured to the frame of the planter. The studs a? a2 prevent In the disk L an oblong hole, m2, is enti f ratchet-wheel K. The stud mis secured'to a `ing with the ground-wheel E, if either of these IOO the bar N from moving in or out more than is required. The lever a3 moves the bar N, and is arranged so that it can be operated by the driver.

Onfthe outer edge of the disk L, and at right angles from the center of the wheel with the armsZ Z, are short ratchets o o. A pawl, o', is hinged to the plate o2, over and in line with these short ratchets. The plate o2 is secured to the frame B of the planter. The pawl o engages the ratchet o and prevents any backward motion of the disk L. This also holds the disk L in such a position that the crossmarker P is held up from the ground while turning round, backing, and getting the Inachine in position for planting. (See Fig. 7.) As soon as the bar N is drawn away from the arm m and the machine begins to move forward, the cross-marker is let down and at the sanne time ahill of corn or otherseed is dropped from the seed-tube to the ground.

The cross-marker P, braced and hinged with the rods p p, is raised and lowered by the rod p. Theshaft p2 is j ournaled by two eyebolts secured to theaxle-barBandhasits ends turned at right angles at each end, forming crank-arlns 1) and p. To the arm p is hinged the rod p. The erank-arm p* is in line with the studs Z Z, so that as the disk L revolves with the groundwheel E the stud Z', projecting from the diskarm Z, comes in contact with the crankarm p* and depresses it,which raises the cross-marker P from the ground. The stud I retains the arm p* for a part of its revolution, when itis released and thc marker P drops to the ground. In this way the two studs Z Z alternately raise the cross-marker Pfrom the ground. The arm p* is released by the stud Z a little before the arm R, which operates the droppers. This brings down the cross-marker P upon the ground alittle before the hill oi'corn is dropped. It is then allowed to drag along the ground a short distance before it is again raised up by the stud Z. This makes a slight furrow or mark between each hill of corn as itis planted, and allowsthe operator t0 see distinctly the rows of hills as he is planting, and allows himA to correct any tendency to get out of line. In crossing ditches it is sometimes necessary to throw the planter out of gear, and being able to distinctly see where he has already planted, it is an easy matter to line up with these crossinarks when commencing to plant again.

I am aware that corn-planters have been patented which operate the dropping devices by the rotary motion of the ground-wheels, and I attribute a good deal of their non-success to the fact that in operation there is no mark or anything to show where the seed has been planted. In crossing a ditch or any unevenness of the ground will throw the rows out of line. This is also the case in using the check-rower77 now in use; but where a distinct mark is made between each hill as it is planted it is an easy matter for the operator to correct any unevenness in the rows and line up with the'marks made where he has already planted.

The bar N holds the disk in such a position, so that as soon as it is drawn away from the arm m a hill of corn is dropped as soon as the planter is started, as shown in Fig. 7.

The droppers are operated by two pivoted arms, R and S, pivoted at r and s, and connected by rods r and s. (See Fig. 4.) The studs Z Z', in revolving with the ground-wheel E, depresses the arm. R, as shown by dotted lines of Fig. 4, which draws over rod r. The arm S, being pivoted at s, throws rod s' in the opposite direction. As soon as the arm R is released the counterbalance-ball s, which is attached to the shaft T, raises the arm R to its original position. The arms s s are connected by the shaft T, which operates both droppers F F at the same time.

The seed-tubes U have two hinged valves, u u', which are hinged a little distance from the sides of the tubes. The arm V is pivoted in the center, and has two studs, o and e', pro jeeting and placed under each of the hinged valves u u. oiprocating motion is given to the rod V the valves a a will be alternately opened and closed, thus always retaining a hill of corn ready to be dropped inthe bottom of the seedtube U. As the arm R is depressed thelower valve, u', of the seed-tube is opened and the upper one is closed, and the required quantity of seed is dropped from the dropper device onto the upper valve, u. As soon as the armR is released the lower valve, a', is closed and receives the seed dropped from the upper valve, a, which is then opened.

The dropping-disk Y receives its rotary motion from the reciprocating motion given to the disk Xwith an arm,x,the end ofwhich isturned up and hinged tothe end of rod s. The rotary dropping-disk Y has'a circular ratchet formed on its underneath side. The disk X, which is placed directly under this, contains a springpawl, w', arranged so as to engage in the tooth of ratchet on dropper-disk Y. The disksY and X rotate from the saine center. The disk X has another arm, x2, which operates the pivoted arm V in the seed-tube U, so that thereciprocating motion given to the disk X through the arm w rotates the seed-dropping disk Y, and also imparts a reciprocating motion to the arm V through the arm x2, and which opens and closes the seed-valves u and u at the same time that the seed-dropping disk Y drops the seed into the seed-tube U.

The furrowing shoe or runner is made dctachable from the seed dropping hoppers, which is an advantage in making repairs, &c.

The groundwheels E E have two corrugations,'e c, formed on their face toward the outer edge of the wheel. A wheel for planters formed in this way has two advantages as a means of pressing the earth over and covering the seed as it is planted-first, the wheel having a flat plain surface, the earth is evenly and well It will be seen that when a repressed over the seed; secondly, the corrugations being at each side of the wheel and also at' each side of the hill of seed planted, pre- Vents the earth from slipping away,i as would be the case if rthe Wheels were flat and Without 'the corrugations.

This machine for planting corn requires only two arms,`Z Z, on the disk L, the ground-wheel being ofthe proper diameter; but for drilling corn and other seed in rows it will be necessary to use a disk with a greater number of armsksix or more', according to the diameter ofthe ground-Wheel-and to remove altogether the cross-marker and attachments. For drilling wheat and other small grain the required number of dropping devices can be arranged in a longitudinal hopper in front of the planter, and arms extending from the shaft T operating each dropper.

Having fully described my invention,what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, and claim, 1s

l. In acorn or otherseed planting machine, the combination of an adjustable seed-tube,U, with arm Y, valves u u', studs v c', for the pur- 2 5 p pose set forth and described.` 

